Backroad Anthem Singer Craig Strickland Found Dead

Craig Strickland has been found dead. The Backroad Anthem singer’s body was recovered in Kaw Lake in Oklahoma, where he and friend Chase Morland had gone duck hunting on Dec. 27.

Morland was found dead last Monday.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials say 29-year-old’s Strickland's body was discovered north of where his boat capsized. KHBS-TV reports that his family has been notified.

Strickland's wife of one year, Helen, responded on Twitter, saying, "#CraigStrickland was found today. He is safe with his Father in Heaven. Thank you Lord for leading us to him today. I will praise you, Amen."

Later, she added more detail on Instagram. Before thanking rescuers, Helen revealed that her husband “fought his way out of the water and up a hill before the stages of hypothermia set in. He experienced no pain in his final moments and simply felt like he was falling asleep. They found him lying in the shape of a cross looking up to his Father.”

Until Monday, all who knew Craig Strickland were clinging to hope that he would be found alive. The singer's black labrador, Sam, survived the harsh temperatures — the dog was said to have been guarding Morland's body when it was discovered. Morland's cause of death has been ruled drowning and exposure to freezing temperatures, but it will take four to eight weeks for a full autopsy report to be returned.

Strickland and Morland were reported missing nearly one day after taking an early morning hunting trip in bad weather. "In case we don't come back, @BackroadCRAIG and I are going right through Winter Storm Goliath to kill ducks in Oklahoma. #IntoTheStorm," Morland tweeted before they left.

Backroad Anthem are a country rock band out of Fayetteville, Ark. that looked to be making inroads to larger stages. They've opened for several major headliners and counted artists like Justin Moore as friends. They kept fans up to date on their Facebook page, regularly sharing remarks made by Strickland's father.